Renting Guide

Register your interest

The first step is to contact us and register on our rental database. You could visit their office, but you could use their website registration. Make sure that you are clear about what you want especially the number of bedrooms and your budget. Then make sure you stay contactable because desirable properties go quickly. If you have been served notice by your current landlord or you have served notice to leave, be sure to tell the agent and give them the latest date you need to move out.

Finding the right property

Budget should be a key factor in your property search, don’t overstretch yourself financially, make sure you take into account all other costs involved.

Standard rental terms

Usually a tenancy agreement is entered into for a minimum term of 6mths and a maximum term of 12 months.

Holding payments

Once you’ve found a property you like you should put down a holding deposit. This will secure the property and the agent will not arrange any more viewings.

Fees

By law, letting agents now need to display their fees prominently in each office, on their website, in marketing materials and on their property adverts on portals. Fees should be clearly expressed and agents are not allowed to use unspecified generic terms such as “Agreement Fee” without specifying what is included. Always ask your chosen agent for their fee structure so you don’t get any nasty surprises.

Referencing

Once you have placed your holding deposit, you will be required to undergo reference checks to confirm your identity, your place of work. You will also be verified as permitted to reside in the Gibraltar and are not subject to any immigration controls. You will be asked to provide a copy of your ID or passport.

Your Tenancy Agreement

The tenancy agreement will be the legal document that details your rights and obligations as tenants, and the obligations and expectations of your landlord, and the agreements made by all parties. It will set out the core terms and will include all the rules of the property.

You should make sure your agent or landlord gives you a copy of the draft tenancy agreement well ahead of the start date of the tenancy for you to read and you should ensure you do this so you are clear as to what you are signing. If you are not sure of anything contained in the agreement, ask the agent for clarification.

The security deposit

Before you move in, you will need to pay a security deposit along with your first months rent. Your security deposit (also called damage deposit) is there to indemnify the landlord against loss of rent or to pay for any damage if you were found to be responsible for causing it. In general, the amount required is equivalent to one months rent. This is held by the landlord or in some cases by the estate agent.

The Inventory

An Inventory document is given to all parties to sign at the beginning of the tenancy to confirm that it’s accurate. Check it carefully and question anything that you do not understand. At the end of the tenancy, the same document is then used compare the state of the property and on the findings of this comparison the deposit is then refunded to the tenant appropriately.

The end tenancy process

There are strict timescales involved in ending a tenancy. This starts from the date notice is served which is usually one or two months, depending on what has been agreed.

Once notice is served the clock starts ticking. The date you leave will be agreed and the agent will put the wheels in motion. If the property is put back on the market, viewings may take place so it’s important to keep the property looking nice for them to show round prospective new tenants.

If an inventory was compiled when you moved in, the inventory will be checked on your last day to conduct the check-out process and at that point you surrender the property back to the agency by handing over your keys. From that point on you will not be allowed to return to the property. The agent will then be in touch with you within 10 days of that date to arrange the return of your deposit if there are no deductions. If, however the landlord wishes to make deductions from your deposit, there will be a set procedure for that to take place.